It isn’t a secret that veteran position players, while often reporting to spring training before they have to, believe camp is too long. They have conditioned their bodies to be ready for regular season games after no more than about two weeks’ worth of exhibition games.

Albert Pujols is no different.

The Los Angeles Angels’ first baseman already announced he will skip the World Baseball Classic, despite wanting to play for the Dominican Republic. Pujols had minor knee surgery in October and wants to make sure he is 100 percent by opening day. Therefore, he doesn’t even plan to play in Cactus League games until mid-March, he told reporters Wednesday.

The Angels are fine with that, believing the 12-year veteran doesn’t need more than two weeks of spring training games to be ready to rock on opening day.